Meghan Markle is making her way back to the world of acting.

The Duchess of Sussex is set to make a return to the screen with a cameo role in the upcoming film Close Personal Friends. According to recent reports, she will portray herself in the production from Amazon MGM Studios. The movie boasts a star-studded cast that includes Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid, and Henry Golding. The story revolves around two individuals who form a friendship with a celebrity couple during a visit to Santa Barbara.

Meghan’s decision to step back into acting has caught many by surprise, especially since it was widely believed that she had permanently left her acting career behind after marrying Prince Harry. However, this return to the silver screen is not entirely unexpected. Although she had previously hinted at retiring from acting, Meghan never fully closed the door on the possibility of returning.

Meghan Markle was ready for ‘a new chapter’ after ‘Suits’ 

After getting engaged to Prince Harry in late 2017, Meghan made the decision to leave Suits behind. At the time, she anticipated a future as a working royal, a path that seemed incompatible with continuing her acting pursuits.

Once she and Harry got engaged in late 2017, Meghan walked away from Suits. With a life as a working royal ahead of her (or so she thought), there was no way she could continue acting. 

She spoke about her decision to give up her career in an interview (via People) not long after she got engaged. 

“I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change,” she said. 

“It’s a new chapter. Right,” Meghan continued. “And also keep in mind I’ve been working on my show for seven years. So we’re very very fortunate to be able to have that sort of longevity on a series and for me, once we hit the 100-episode marker I thought, you know what, I have ticked this box and I feel really proud of the work I’ve done there and now it’s time to, as you said, work as a team with [Harry].” 

Meghan Markle never completely wrote off a return to acting 

After Harry and Meghan said “I do” in May 2018, it seemed unlikely that she would ever act again. But things changed just a couple of years later when the couple announced they were stepping back as working royals and leaving the U.K. They eventually settled in Montecito, California, where they began pursuing various entertainment-related ventures. Meghan launched two podcasts through Spotify and the pair signed a deal with Netflix that resulted in several documentary series, including Harry & Meghan and Heart of Invictus, as well as her lifestyle show With Love, Meghan. Other projects, including an adaptation of Carley Fortune’s novel Meet Me at the Lake, are also reportedly in the works. 

Initially, it seemed that Meghan was settling into a producer role and had no interest in getting back in front of the camera. But she was careful not to completely rule out the possibility. 

“I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not,” she told Variety of her possible return to acting in 2022.   

She also spoke positively about her experiences in the entertainment industry, including working with Harry & Meghan director Liz Garbus. 

“It’s so amazing to be around so much creative energy and to see how people work together and share their own points of view,” she said. 

Now, Meghan is back in her element on the Close Personal Friends set.

“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves,” an insider told The Sun. 

“She has been swamped with offers but this one felt right,” the source added. “It is Meghan’s way of gently putting her toe back in the water and seeing how she enjoys being back on set.”

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